PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECRETARIAT PIFS(03)FEMM.04 FORUM ECONOMIC MINISTERS MEETING Majuro, Republic of Marshall Islands 11-12 June 2003 SESSION 2 PAPER (and background for Ministerial Discussion Session, 10 June 2003) ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT This paper, prepared by the Forum Secretariat, highlights the need to integrate environmental and social concerns with economic planning to ensure the outcome is sustainable. The paper is for the consideration of Ministers.
BRIEFING PAPER ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT Purpose [PIFS(03)FEMS.04] This paper highlights the need to integrate environmental and social concerns with economic planning to ensure the development outcome is sustainable. Issues 2. Sustainable development requires having a well-developed understanding of the impacts of activities and the linkages between society, the economy and the environment. 3. To fully reap the benefits of sustainable development it is essential to integrate these principles into national economic policy and planning processes. The variety of established strategic planning processes can be used as a starting point. Vertical integration of planning processes is also important. 4. Political support, good governance and fair and effective legal and judiciary practices have a key role in enabling sustainable development. It also requires the strengthening of institutional arrangements and capacity, for high-level national coordination and the formulation of national policies, strategies and strategic plans. 5. Implementation of sustainable development requires that inclusion of the views, priorities and future aspirations of all stakeholders. Particularly important in mobilising the financial resources for sustainable development are partnerships with development partners, regional and international organisations, and the private sector. 6. Information is available on good practice in developing and implementing policies and strategies for sustainable development. However, none of this has been specially targeted at the Pacific, and this is one area in which further work could be undertaken to assist FIC governments. Recommendations 7. Ministers may wish to: (a) (b) (c) (d) recognise their national commitments to the principles of sustainable development made at various United Nations conferences; encourage the integration of the principles of sustainable development into national economic and development policy and planning processes to fully reap the resultant benefits of growth and poverty alleviation; and request the Secretariat to prepare an analysis of national planning frameworks in the Pacific with a view to highlighting mechanisms for the integration and mainstreaming of sustainable development. request the Secretariat, in cooperation with SPREP, to analyse available guidelines on strategies for sustainable development and recommend to FEMM, as appropriate, the adoption of all or part of these. 2
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECRETARIAT PIFS(03)FEMS.04 FORUM ECONOMIC MINISTERS MEETING Majuro, Republic of Marshall Islands 11-12 June 2003 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT Purpose This paper highlights the need to integrate environmental and social concerns with economic planning to ensure the development outcome is sustainable. Background What is sustainable development? 2. The universal goal of sustainable development has evolved as the expression of how to satisfy current human needs without compromising long-term natural capital capacities and environmental quality. Sustainability has become the goal of all development initiatives due to increasing recognition of the fundamental interconnectedness of environmental integrity, social and cultural well-being and economic growth and the importance of wise and appropriate policy and governance. 3. Sustainable development incorporates key elements of all human and natural systems, acknowledging that much degradation of natural systems is caused by unsustainable livelihoods, poverty and social inequity. Thus sustainable development seeks integration of three interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars economic development, social development and environmental protection which in turn, particularly in the small and vulnerable island states of the Pacific, must be supported and promoted equally by on overarching environment of sound and effective governance. 4. The neglect of any one or more of these areas will compromise full development potential, and in the long run may jeopardize both human livelihoods, social and cultural traditions, economic success and eventually the opportunities available to people living with the effects of development decisions made now. Effective development outcomes therefore require an acknowledgement of the critical importance of integrating these issues and accounting explicitly for them in planning and intervention. 3
5. Poverty eradication, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are overarching objectives of, and essential requirements for, sustainable development. Thus sustainable development is not advocating the removal of previous development goals, rather it is recognising that existing development goals should all considered within the context of the universal goal of Sustainable Development. International support for sustainable development 6. Over the past decades, United Nations global conferences have highlighted the importance of integrating economic, environmental and social concerns in the achievement of sustainable development. Through participation in these conferences FICs have made commitments to the principles of sustainable development. 7. The Rio Earth Summit of 1992, formally known as the Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), was a pivotal event in international thinking on sustainable development. It was agreed that the protection of the environment, and social and economic development are fundamental to sustainable development and are closely inter-related. These are recognised as the three pillars of sustainable development. 8. The outcome from the Earth Summit was the adoption of the global program, Agenda 21, and the Rio Declaration. These provided the fundamental principles and the programme of action for achieving sustainable development. 9. Agenda 21 identified human beings as being at the centre of concerns for sustainable development, and recognises the need to provide for both current and future generations. 10. Agenda 21 called for national sustainable development strategies to be developed which would integrate social and economic development with the environment. Agenda 21 did not prescribe methods of producing such plans, but assumed that, in most countries, sustainability would be built into existing planning processes. However, there is little evidence that this integration is occurring in either mainstream development planning or environmental planning. 11. Importantly for the Pacific, sustainable development was further considered in the context of small islands in 1994 at the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States in Barbados. It was key in recognizing the vulnerability (both economic and environmental) of small island developing states (SIDS) and the disadvantages (capacity and financial) that their size imposed. The Conference resolved: There is an urgent need in small island developing States to address the constraints to sustainable development, including scarce land resources, which lead to difficult land and agriculture use decisions; limited fresh water; education and training needs; health and human settlement requirements; inordinate pressures on coastal and marine environment 4
and resources; and limited means available to exploit natural resources on a sustainable basis. 12. The resultant Barbados Plan of Action translated Agenda 21 into specific policies, actions and measures to be taken at the national, regional and international levels to enable SIDS to achieve sustainable development. Key to the Barbados Declaration is agreement to the need to develop the human resource base of islands as one of SIDS most significant assets as well as to develop their institutional and administrative capacity. 13. During the 1990s a number of other United Nation s events have been important in promoting various elements of sustainable development and FICs have participated in these the World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen 1995), World Conference on Women (Beijing 1995), and Copenhagen+5 (Geneva 2000). 14. In terms of setting the development agenda, a key event was the adoption of the Millennium Declaration in 2000 by all 189 members of the United Nations General Assembly. The Declaration sets out in a single framework, the key global challenges, outlines a response to these challenges and establishes measures for judging performance through a set of eight goals (the MDGs), supported by eighteen targets and forty+ indicators. The MDGs promote the integration of economic, social and environmental concerns to achieve sustainable development. 15. Most recently, the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) was held in Johannesburg in 2002. WSSD was a key political platform that engendered resource leverage for sustainable development at all levels. It provided the opportunity to reaffirm international commitment to sustainable development and to re-examine the implementation of the outcomes of Rio on its tenth anniversary. It acted to further build on the achievements made since Rio and expedite the realisation of the remaining goals. 16. The resultant Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development recognised poverty eradication, changing consumption and production patterns, and protecting and managing the natural resource base for economic and social development are overarching objectives of, and essential requirements for, sustainable development. 17. WSSD highlighted the need to support the goal of sustainable development with specific short and medium-term strategies. These strategies should be coherent and complementary and be built on the principles of accountability, participation, predictability and transparency. Without these legs to stand on, sustainable development becomes a hollow ideal, its power as a concept diluted and weakened. 18. Building upon WSSD, in 2002, the UN General Assembly reached a resolution to hold an international meeting in 2004 to undertake a full and comprehensive review of the Barbados Plan of Action. This was called for in the Plan of Implementation of the WSSD. This meeting, known informally as Barbados+10, will be held in Mauritius. 5
Sustainable Development in the Pacific 19. Inter-generational equity has been both subconsciously promoted and naturally embedded within traditional Pacific life. In small island societies the need to live in harmony with the natural world is at the forefront of survival as a society. 20. However, warning signs of both global and localised environmental stress and pressure are becoming apparent. A general understanding of the interconnected nature of the ecosystem points to the fact that these pressures have the potential to impact on the lives of all in the Pacific. To keep taking from the ecosystem to meet current human needs, requires that the health and productivity of the system as a whole is maintained into the future. 21. In the Pacific, the banner of sustainable development has been used to promise much but development processes so far have often failed to yield desired outcomes to this region's people, their environment and natural resources. 22. While there has been public commitment by Pacific Governments to sustainable development, there remains a long way to go to ensuring its effective implementation in the Pacific. Economic development continues to degrade the natural resources of the region and pollute the environment in both urban and rural areas. In turn, declining environmental conditions adversely affect economic performance and living standards. 23. Recognising that economic and social development and environmental protection are mutually inclusive concerns, at FEMM 2002 Ministers: 21. (a) (i) (b) (ii) requested the FEMM Chair or their representative to participate in the SPREP Environment Ministers Meeting to be held 21-26 July in Majuro, Republic of Marshall Islands. requested the Secretariat to develop a workshop for Economic Ministers on Economic and Social Development and the Environment, immediately prior to FEMM 2003, to consider the implications of the outcomes of WSSD and related events. endorsed the outcomes of the Pacific Islands High Level Consultation: Investing in Adaptation, held in Nadi on 14-16 May 2002. 24. In preparation for the Ministerial Workshop/Discussion Session, the Forum Secretariat organised a workshop in Nadi on 26-27 March 2003 examining Sustainable Development and Economic Policy and Planning. It was attended by senior officials from Ministries of Planning, Finance and Environment, and representatives of national and regional NGOs, and development partners. 25. The workshop highlighted the linkages between, and the need to integrate, economic, environmental and social policies and practices to achieve sustainable development. Economic development and environment were noted to go hand-in-hand with cultural and traditional dimensions and social goals, which are particularly important 6
in the Pacific. The outcomes are set out in Annex 1 and key issues are discussed further below. 26. This paper highlights key issues raised in this workshop. It proposes a path to promote sustainable development in the Pacific region by building upon international commitments. 27. The paper forms a useful background document to the Ministerial Discussion Session held immediately prior to FEMM on 10 June 2003. The key points of this discussion will be tabled at FEMM. The 2002 Chair of FEMM will also report to FEMM 2003 on his participation in the SPREP Environment Ministers Meeting in July 2002. Additionally, at the invitation of the 2002 FEMM Chair the current SPREP Environment Ministers Chair will participate in FEMM 2003. Issues Recognising and understanding linkages 28. As highlighted above, sustainable development requires having a well-developed understanding of the impacts of activities and the linkages between society, the economy and the environment. These linkages point to the need to target actions at all levels, from the grassroots community through to government. 29. However there are a further set of linkages which are important to understand - these are vertical linkages. A truly integrated economic and environmental planning process should link the various planning levels from "project" to "global" in a consistent, cohesive, transparent framework. The test for such linkages should be that the planning level being considered clearly relates at least to the planning levels above and below for example, sectoral plans should be linked to national plans and vice versa. This is shown diagrammatically in Annex 2. Integration 30. To fully reap the growth and poverty alleviation benefits of sustainable development it is essential to integrate these principles into national economic policy and planning processes. Indeed sustainable development promotes integrated policymaking. In practical terms its requires economic cost-benefit tradeoffs to be taken into account in environmental laws, and for environmental tradeoffs to be kept in mind with economic development. Thus integration allows for sustainable use. 31. Recognition of the need for balance also assumes a mechanism which allows for effective integration of these three key elements within an overall framework which is guided by clear and unambiguous sustainability objectives, which is underpinned by appropriate indicators or performance measures and which is supported by the necessary institutional structures. 7
32. Sustainable development requires the strengthening of institutional arrangements, such as the national planning office, the committee of heads of ministries/departments and subcommittees of cabinet, for high-level national coordination and the formulation of national policies, strategies and strategic plans. The institutionalisation of a cyclical planning process and routine revision is extremely important. 33. Integration requires Ministries of Finance, Planning and the Environment, to develop the capacity to value natural capital and account for ecosystem services as well as to use environmental economics techniques to improve project selection and analysis. They must have the capacity to communicate effectively - to perform macroeconomic and cost-benefit analyses of environmental and risk management issues, incorporate these concerns into the budget and planning processes, and to communicate the concerns to all the relevant stakeholders both within and outside the government. 34. Key to successful integration of sustainable development principles is information baseline data. This allows alternative scenarios to be built, which cover the complete envelope of development possibilities, so providing decision makers with adequate information about the implications of policy choices, thus guiding them away from undesirable or unsustainable futures. Collaborative and participatory approach 35. One clear fact is that sustainable development is most likely to be achieved through a participatory and cooperative approach. Implementation of sustainable development requires a coordinated and coherent approach to tackling the basic constraints to development within the Pacific region in a way that includes the views, priorities and future aspirations of all stakeholders. 36. There needs to be increased dialogue, cooperation and participation by key stakeholders communities, and particularly vulnerable groups within communities; government; civil society; media; development partners; inter-governmental and regional organisations; and multilateral agencies. The participation of all groups is crucial because every one has an important, yet different, role to play in the future of development. Through participation and dialogue the partnerships vital to achieve the widely shared goals of sustainable development can be developed. 37. Particularly important in mobilising the financial resources for sustainable development are partnerships with development partners, regional and international organisations, and the private sector. These allow the sharing of information, technology, strengthening of institutions and building capacity, as well as the mobilization of financial resources. Such partnerships will be vital in ensuring the achievement of sustainable development at the national level. 8
Enabling environment 38. Central to the success of sustainable development is political support. Politicians must be well briefed and have an understanding of sustainable development and the tradeoffs which must be made. 39. The role of good governance and fair and effective legal and judiciary practices cannot be overstated in enabling the realisation of sustainable development. Thus, efficient public institutions, political, legal and administrative structures that are accountable, transparent, accessible and devoid of corruption are vital to foster sustainable development and can be seen as the key to ensuring development accounts for and recognises the fundamental integration of economy, society and the environment. Promoting actions 40. While sustainable development places a heavy emphasis on planning processes this should be balanced with the need to implement the plans. 41. United Nations meetings have been key in global thinking on sustainable development and have had an important role in promoting its implementation at the global, regional and national level. Reporting on progress has been part of the follow-up to global meetings. 42. However, the need to report has raised concerns regarding the capacity constraints faced by FICs and the priority which should be accorded to such reporting. Reporting measures of progress need to reflect national and regional circumstances and realities and complement national processes in developing national plans and mobilising resources. 43. Indeed the variety of established strategic planning processes can be used as a starting point for a strategy for sustainable development. An objective should be to improve convergence between existing strategies, avoiding duplication, confusion and straining country capacity and resources. Sustainable development guidelines 44. Information is available to guide governments in regard to good practice in developing and implementing policies and strategies for sustainable development. The OECD s Strategies for Sustainable Development: Guidance for Development Cooperation is one of these, however others have been developed by international organisations and also by major donors. 45. While there is no uniform planning approach that would integrate economic social, and environmental issues at all levels from global to projects, these guidelines highlight some common elements, such as: the need for increased stakeholder participation in the planning process; people-centred; 9
the use of triggers to ensure an appropriate level of revision; clear budgetary priorities; explicit linkages between upper and lower planning levels; the need to articulate the costs and benefits of implementation in a simple manner; develop and build on existing capacity of institutions; more robust data and models to support integration; national leadership and ownership; and increased specificity in setting objectives. 46. None of these guidelines have been specially targeted at the Pacific, or the needs of small island developing states. This is one area in which further work could be undertaken to assist FIC governments through providing the knowledge to implement sustainable development principles. Recommendations 47. Ministers may wish to: (a) (b) (c) (d) recognise their national commitments to the principles of sustainable development made at various United Nations conferences; encourage the integration of the principles of sustainable development into national economic and development policy and planning processes to fully reap the resultant benefits of growth and poverty alleviation; and request the Secretariat to prepare an analysis of national planning frameworks in the Pacific with a view to highlighting mechanisms for the integration and mainstreaming of sustainable development. request the Secretariat, in cooperation with SPREP, to analyse available guidelines on strategies for sustainable development and recommend to FEMM, as appropriate, the adoption of all or part of these. 10
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC POLICY AND PLANNING WORKSHOP Annex 1 Nadi, Fiji 26-27 March 2003 OUTCOMES Senior officials from Ministries of Planning, Finance and Environment, and representatives of national and regional NGOs, and development partners met to share experiences in, and discuss, the integration of sustainable development principles into economic policy and planning in Forum Island Countries (FICs). 2. The workshop highlighted the linkages between, and the need to integrate, economic, environmental and social policies and practices to achieve sustainable development. Economic development and environment were noted to go hand-in-hand with cultural and traditional dimensions and social goals, which are particularly important in the Pacific. What is integration? 3. United Nations global conferences have highlighted the importance of integrating economic, environmental and social concerns in the achievement of sustainable development. Through participation in these conferences FICs have made commitments to the principles of sustainable development. 4. Participants noted that to fully reap the growth and poverty alleviation benefits of sustainable development these principles should be brought into national economic policy and planning processes. The vulnerability of island settings needed to be balanced against demands for economic growth the outcome of this balance should be development which is sustainable. Indeed, participants recognised that declining environmental conditions could adversely affect economic performance and living standards and attention to integration could allow better management of such risks. 5. In the Pacific prior attempts at integration of economic and environmental policies and practices have been spasmodic and marginal and critically limited by human, financial, and data resources. While there are many global, regional and national plans, consolidation of these at sub-national and local levels to ensure practical implementation have not always been achieved in the Pacific. 6. A truly integrated economic and environmental planning process should be cyclic and link the various planning levels from "project" to "global" in a consistent, cohesive, flexible and transparent framework. The test for such linkages should be that the planning level considered clearly related at least to the planning levels above and below. Such linkages are extremely rare in practice. 11
An enabling environment 7. Overall, an enabling environment was seen as a prerequisite to progressing integration. This environment comprises a number of elements highlighted below. 8. Improving governance at national, sub-national and local level is important in promoting sustainable development. Good governance is a common thread in sustainable development and is necessary to maintain economic, social and environmental integrity. 9. Political will and gaining the support and understanding of political leaders of the principles and rationale of sustainable development was recognised as essential to secure effective and lasting integration of environmental and economic planning and policies and the resourcing of these. Engaged and active key policy makers can be important champions of sustainable development, while motivated and confident advisers are also essential. 10. Education of government, private sector and the community sector is needed to provide a wider understanding of the issue of sustainable development and also the contribution of the environment to economic growth. An awareness of priorities is also important. 11. The need to develop ownership of planning process has been widely recognised with consultations typically being undertaken within government and with community groups, non-government organisations and the private sector. Similarly the concept of integration of environment issues into planning and budgeting requires a sense of ownership of these issues. 12. Consideration may be given to driving the mainstreaming of sustainable development from outside the traditional line agency structure, recognising that such a structure will need to be institutionalised and funded. There are some positive examples in the Pacific of the use of high level councils of decision-makers or advisers to oversee the approach to sustainable development. 13. Within the existing government structures there is a need to improve interagency cooperation and coordination on integration issues to make the greatest use of the available capacity as well as to ensure information and lessons are shared. This will require that business be done differently and that the same language is used. Bridges can be built physically or virtually and institutional diagnosis and strengthening may be considered. 14. The participants noted the benefits of pinpointing and prioritising specific areas needing capacity development and forming partnerships to create and make use of existing capacity (including with other government agencies and non-state actors). Use should be made of on-island and regional expertise. 15. There was a perceived need to promote a more participatory and listening culture. 12
All levels of government needed to be involved in decisions about sustainable development, especially those levels where the ownership of natural resources sits. Stakeholders needed to be brought into decision making, at an appropriate scale. Indeed, the corporate sector had the potential to be a champion of integration and promotion of sustainable development as these are supportive of their corporate responsibilities. It is important to ensure that consultation of the community is coordinated across issues in an integrated manner and gives sufficient time to develop an understanding of processes and responsibilities. Community consultations could include a phased program of interventions to allow feedback from planners to ensure expectations were not unduly raised and to ensure actions taken at the community level inform national, regional and international thinking while national programs match community needs. 16. Integration needs to go from the higher level to the grass-roots level. A lack of coordination mechanisms that link economic policy, development policy to on the ground practices can be problematic, it is important that top-down and bottom-up approaches meet. Planning approaches to integration 17. Participants recognised that planning provided an achievable vision of the future. But, to achieve this vision, action was essential, described as a just do it approach. Action required resources human, technical and financial which were often lacking. However, plans must be persuasive and well prioritised to ensure allocation of resources. 18. Participants discussed planning approaches to the integration of environmental concerns and recognised that planning tools needed to be improved. They also noted a number of areas where assistance/increased focus would be helpful: Capacity building - capacity at individual, institutional and national levels is needed, including in consultative skills and policy advice delivery. It was noted that crossfertilisation of skills was useful and individual capacity building needed to be encouraged through the provision of career paths. Advocacy from the grass-roots level needed to be promoted frequently the grassroots environmental movement was fragmented and had no contact with government which led to a lack of focus on their concerns. Valuation of natural/environmental assets this could provide useful information for decision-making and identify instances in which environmental aspects could lead to an income stream. A more strategic approach to integration is needed with an improvement in identification of priorities and sequencing. Attention needs to be paid to the sustainable management of natural resources. The impact of aid on sustainability needed to be considered. 13
Environmental education could be mainstreamed. Development of sustainable development legislation - the closer relationship of environmental legislation with development legislation and the closure of legislative and regulatory loopholes and use of transparent processes is important in promoting good governance. Environmental impact assessment guidelines could be developed for the Pacific. Information - organised information flows allow effective decision-making and have an important role in facilitating awareness at all levels. There also needed to be capacity to understand, share, analyse and appropriately use information and data in decision-making, as well as to measure performance and policy impacts. Assistance was required in implementing community (sub-national) based decisionmaking and a bottom-up approach to sustainable development planning. Financing sustainable development 19. Attracting national budget finances to sustainable development could be assisted by recognition of the economic benefits provided, including maintenance of traditional knowledge and practices, and tourism benefits. Participants discussed the role that the greening of national accounts could play in this. 20. The linking of national sustainable development plans to budgetary processes and to legislative/regulatory structures could promote coordination and prioritisation. Transparent budgeting processes would enable a clear understanding of the scale of resources allocated to particular issues and activities. This demonstration of national commitment could also open up overseas development assistance opportunities. 21. There was also potential for sustainable environmental activities to generate their own revenue streams through a variety of mechanisms including trust funds and access/permit fees. Moving sustainable development forward in the Pacific region 22. National commitment and action is essential to moving sustainable development forward in the Pacific. In support of this countries may wish to review their national priorities, institutional arrangements and capacity needs. It was also noted that efforts to prioritise and develop capacity nationally could have the effect of drawing in more externally provided capacity. 23. Participants identified difficulties or constraints faced in integrating environmental priorities into economic decision-making. They discussed which of these are key national priorities (see Annex for details) and ways these could be addressed both nationally and regionally. It was recognised that countries are at different levels of integration and are seeking this through different mechanisms, thus all issues and approaches are not universally applicable. 14
24. Participants recognised it was important to tackle the process of integration and sustainable development in priority elements of an achievable size. The scheduling, scaling and complexity of actions needs to take account of the stakeholders involved and their capacity and financial resources. 25. Regional organisations and development partners noted their ability to assist in various areas highlighted as national priorities. 26. Development partners recognised the role they could play through mainstreaming environmental concerns within their own internal processes and programs, including through the preparation of country environmental analyses and programming briefs. Walking the talk in their own activities could provide a push for sustainable development in some countries. 27. The annual Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM), to be held in Majuro, Republic of Marshall Islands, 11-12 June 2003, provides an important opportunity for Ministers from Departments of Finance and Treasury to consider the issue of sustainable development and the need to integrate environmental concerns into economic policy and planning. Participants noted that issues raised in the workshop are to be brought before Economic Ministers for discussion in their pre-femm workshop. The workshop outcomes will also be tabled at FEMM. 28. The meeting requested that the outcomes of this meeting additionally be placed before the High-Level meeting on Climate Change Adaptation to be held in Sigatoka, Fiji in May 2003. 29. SPREP noted they were providing ongoing support to a number of members in improving their national environmental legislation and its nexus with development legislation. They would also be able to assist in environmental education, and environmental monitoring and evaluation. SPREP was also looking towards providing assistance with GIS and information management. 30. SOPAC noted their EU-funded Reducing Vulnerability Project provided capacity building and tools to reduce the risk in the island system including developing national comprehensive hazard and risk management practices, and national GIS-based resource information centres to facilitate improved decision making at all levels. 31. There was a further role recognised for regional organisations in providing capacity building assistance to member countries through facilitating attachments of national staff to regional organisations or between countries. Additionally, environmental impact assessment guidelines can be consolidated at a regional level and adapted to Pacific nations specific needs. Forum Secretariat, Suva 31 March 2003 15
ATTACHMENT NATIONAL PRIORITIES AS HIGHLIGHTED BY PARTICIPANTS Cook Islands Complete annual review of National Assessment Report draft Set up sustainable development unit in Office of Prime Minister Coordinate and consolidate fragmented policies and adopt supporting legislation and regulations Walking the talk - education, awareness and completion of a national sustainable development strategy Federated States of Micronesia Strengthen environment based approach Explore environmental economics integrated approach Develop political will to do this Fiji Institutional strengthening and capacity building Aid coordination ensuring programmes are country driven GDP basket and calculation taking into account the pillars of sustainable development (economic, environmental, social/cultural values) Kiribiti Increase participation of stakeholders Improve coordination of executing agencies Continue to encourage participation of ministries in budgeting Strengthen policing of Environment Act Nauru Review of existing environment legislation, recognising inherent constraints Land rehabilitation integration of national plans with master land- use plan Strengthen environment education Niue Institutional strengthening amalgamation of current planning unit and environment unit enact legislation for monitoring and policing Improve advocacy and awareness and strengthen partnerships between different agencies Networking with CROP organisations Incorporate sustainable development issues into national planning framework with a focus on sectoral action plans Better coordinate donor funded projects 16
Palau Continue to refine the national Environmental Protection Council objectives and associated action matrix Coordinate sustainable development activities between national and state governments Improve coordination between executive and legislative branches of government Due to budget constraints need for decision makers to be aware of associated values of the environment Papua New Guinea Review national sustainable development strategy to ensure it captures issue of poverty and outcomes of WSSD, and development framework programme of implementation to integrate with medium term implementation strategy and poverty reduction strategy for integration Outstanding legislative areas for tidying up relevant regulations to give effect to legislation and also to approval of national assessment report for forwarding to UN CSD Progress ongoing work with the Australian government on TII Partnership particularly in the area in research and capacity strengthening including equipping relevant agencies with necessary planning tools, such as GIS and CHARM Republic of Marshall Islands Clarifying roles and responsibilities concerning sustainable development more attention on local action and progress, separate monitoring and planning functions (under Presidents office) Continue reforms and improvement of planning environment Information sharing planning task force inclusive of Non-State Actors and revive advisory boards Performance budgeting Increase participation in planning process quality of life issues Taking stock of where are now avoiding the cookie cutter approach to legal structures Samoa Recognition in FEMM of workshop outcomes including: Strengthening coordination in Development/Environment Planning at all levels regional, national and sub-national levels. A synthesis of the sustainable development issue may be of use. Enables linking of Environment management to national resourcing. At the national level, Performance Budgeting, Sustainable Development strategy has incorporated the need for EIAs etc particularly in infrastructure sector. In development partnerships, both partners must be sensitized to each others requirements in full. Legislation, with focus on enforcement targeting an enabling environment ie. capacity building at grassroots level. A National Planning Legislation is at the Bill stage. 17
Time framing and scheduling of integration should take into account capacities in executing agencies. For instance GIS capability, Risk Assessment, EIAs and Strategic Environment Assessments etc. Consultations must be participatory. An Awareness Framework for environment is in progress for engaging stakeholders and partners. Successful integration requires full engagement of stakeholders, particularly at the community level. A central planning institution(s) is in place. Plan to shift ACC to Economic Policy and Planning Section of Treasury. Sectorally: (a) Infrastructure (GIS is an important tool) (b) Biodiversity (c) Public-private sector partnerships (d) Corporate planning (Institutional strengthening) budget process based on output performance. Tonga Need to review current legislation specific to the environment with a view to promoting sustainable development Budgetary constraint need to link national strategic plan, sustainable development and the budget Leadership at all levels in terms of transparency and capacity building Tuvalu Integrate the objectives and principles of sustainable development and MDGs into the National Sustainable Development Strategy Capacity building at three levels individual, institutional and national Adopt integrated planning of all sectors both nationally and at the community level Introduce a comprehensive framework of national and local environmental laws; together with means to enforce them Vanuatu Review all fragmented documents/plans Develop connections between community, provincial and national levels in terms of promoting community needs and priorities, proposing options and assessing costs, and review screening and other processes and develop guidelines / criteria Look at alternative financial mechanisms that can enhance integration of policy into budgeting 18
Economics and the Environment Linkages and Interventions Level Linkages Interventions Macro National Economic Development Plans National Environment Plans Sectoral Sectoral Plans linked to national plans Resource Management Controls Industry Incentive and Tax structures Resource Management Controls Emissions Control Micro (Enterprise) Urban planning Environmental impact assessment Licences for resource extraction Cross-sectoral (eg. impact of waste on tourism) Community Tradition and culture Resource control World heritage locations Setting aside of conservation areas Restrictions on development in geographic areas Resources Satellite Accounts Licenses for extraction Emissions controls Provision of infrastructure (water, sewage, waste disposal etc) Full analysis of environmental and social impacts Permit to invest Ongoing monitoring to meet local health and environmental standards ANALYTICAL TOOLS: Global information and similar techniques Natural resource and environment valuation Environmental impact assessments Cost benefit analysis Annex 2 19